Honda’s recreation of Ayrton Senna’s record-setting lap at Suzuka Circuit has won the Grand Prize at the 17th annual Japan Media Arts Festival. The multimedia project, titled “Sound of Honda / Ayrton Senna 1989″ combines a film, interactive website, and smartphone app to give users the experience of witnessing the legendary driver’s achievement 24 years ago.
Senna’s qualifying lap of 1:38:041 was, at the time, a new record for one of the most difficult circuits on the Formula 1 roster. The McLaren-Honda MP4/5 that he drove was a dominant force in F1 as well, winning 16 races and 23 pole positions in the two years it was in service.
The recreation took telemetry data from Senna’s McLaren-Honda MP4/5, including changes in throttle position, engine and vehicle speed during his run. The sound of the car’s wailing naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V10 was then recorded with the actual car, currently part of Honda’s Collection Hall, and played over an array of speakers placed around Suzuka Circuit.
Watch the video below, or see it on Honda’s interactive website. Or, download the iPhone app that allows you to sync the sound of Senna’s MP4/5 while driving your own car.
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